Hello Siestas!
I’m Adrienne, aka “Fuzzytop”, writing to you from Jasper, Tennessee, a very small town about 25 miles west of Chattanooga. I’m a transplant to the South, having moved here from the Phoenix area in 2005. My family consists of husband, Tom, Rachel (HS Senior), and James (HS Freshman). Along with the humans, our family includes six dogs and eight cats, and of those, only two were acquired deliberately; we have soft hearts for abandoned dogs and cats. We also have six cows, a donkey, and assorted chickens and live on 40 acres in a rural area, which is a huge change from the Phoenix suburbs.
So…..a little bit about myself. I grew up overseas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We lived there until I was nine, and then immigrated to the United States, landing in Mesa, Arizona. Culture shock!!! After High School I attended Arizona State University, receiving a BS in Bioengineering and later, a MS in Quality Engineering and Applied Statistics. For many years I worked as an engineer and a project manager at Intel Corporation in AZ. Here in TN, I work in Quality Assurance for an engineering firm in Chattanooga. Work-wise, I seriously love data analysis and statistics. Away from work I enjoy reading, drawing, beading, gardening, and spending time with my family. I also love Bible Studies, and have done every Siesta Summer Bible study with two dear friends, Linda and Sarah, whom I met through this blog.
As a child, I had very little exposure to Jesus and the gospel. In Kuala Lumpur, I attended a Catholic school, and I recall my class practicing for communion using slips of newspaper in place of the wafers. The nuns were very concerned that we not “mess up” our First Holy Communion, so it was a stressful event. I had no idea what it all meant. My parents were not Christians, so as a child we never went to church or read the Bible, but somehow I knew in my heart that God was real. During difficult times in my early years, I remember praying to God, and trusting that those prayers were heard.
During High School, I began attending church and youth group with some close friends, and began identifying myself as “a Christian”, but I know now I had never truly given my heart and my life to Jesus and fully trusted in Him for salvation. My Christianity was nothing but a label. I became disillusioned when I found out those High School friends were no different from the non-Christian “bad” kids I knew. I dropped out of Youth Group and then church for many years.
During college I met my husband. He had been saved during his senior year of High School, and we spent many hours talking about God, and Jesus. After we married, we started attending church. One fateful Sunday I went alone, and during the invitation, I felt an overwhelming conviction that the invitation was for me. Honestly, I was stunned, having thought for many years that I was saved! I didn’t respond to the invitation that day, but all the next week it was on my mind, and I prayed to really know what to do. The following Sunday during the invitation I was again convicted in my heart that I needed to respond and this time, I went forward, prayed for Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and truly accepted him as Savior. Even today, almost 30 years later, I can remember the overwhelming flood of relief and joy.
Of my four siblings, parents, step-parents, in-laws, nieces and nephews, only a few are saved. I count many lost people among my extended family, and I believe it is an imperative that I pray for them. In Romans 10:1 Paul wrote, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved,” (emphasis mine). As C.H. Spurgeon once stated in a sermon:
Until the gate of hell is shut upon a man, we must not cease to pray for him. And if we see him hugging the very doorposts of damnation, we must go to the mercy seat and beseech the arm of grace to pluck him from his dangerous position. While there is life there is hope, and although the soul is almost smothered with despair, we must not despair for it, but rather arouse ourselves to awaken the Almighty arm.
There are days when I am frustrated with seemingly unanswered prayers regarding the salvation of people I love. So the Scripture I’m choosing this time is 2 Pet 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (NIV), which reminds me that these things are under His control and His timing, and that God desires salvation for every soul. If you have lost loved ones, like me, perhaps this verse will comfort you also.
I am so grateful for this blog, and SSMT. The friends I have met through this blog, the original Siesta Fiesta, and the SSMTC events are so precious to me.
Love in Christ,
Adrienne (Fuzzytop)
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
NIV
Cathy Pernsteiner, Clarkston, WA “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Ephesians 3:17-18 NIV
Jen Dakin, Kenton, OH
“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 (NIV)
Tammy Cosby/Siloam NC….I Chronicles 16:11 Look to the Lord and his strength ; seek his face always. (NIV)
Karen
New Holland, PA
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Jeremiah 33:3
Amy from Everett, WA
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:14-15 (NIV)
Jennifer Payne
Acworth, GA
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a deprived minds, to do those things that are not proper,
Romans 1:26 NASB
Marg Crozier, Yeosu, South Korea
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15 NIV
Joanna Trauger, Greer, SC
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Chirst Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
Tessa from Nacogdoches, TX
Psalm 1:6 NKJV
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Sue Stingu, Troy MI
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’
ann from Mandeville, la
Psalm 119:34 (niv)
Give me understanding so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
Leverett,MA
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Colossians 3:12 ESV
Shelly Elston, Portland, OR
“To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:21 (ESV)
Sissy Youngblood Ruston, Louisiana
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and He saved them from their distress.
Psalm 107:19 NIV
Charlotte Heisel Modesto, CA
Psalms 91:4 (NLT)
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wing.
His faithful promises are your
Armor and protection.
Brittany Watson Marietta, GA
“therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself”
Matthew 6:34 ESV
Bonny Hansen Mitchell South Dakota
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26 NIV)
Angie Martens, Charlotte, NC
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. I Timothy 6:17 (NIV)
Sheri Vreugdenhil, South Bend, IN
“For his anger lasts only a moment but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5. (NIV)
Sara McPeek, Decatur, TX
You aremy hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalms 34:7 NIV)
Sandra Hicks, Houston, Tx.
I Pet. 1:5 AMP. We are being guarded by God’s power through faith until we fully inherit that final salvation that is ready to be revealed for you in the last time.
Vicki Freels, Ritherfordton, NC
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.”
Exodus 14:4 NIV
Joan G, Allentown, PA
“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” John 1:4 NASB
Martha Parrish, Irving, TX
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
NIV
Kathy, Leamington, Ontario, Canada
John 16:33
“…but take heart; I have overcome the world!” NIV
Leslie, Oakland MD
I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11 ESV
Amy, Westminster, Md
” For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Psalms 57:10
Jessica Hawney, San Jose, CA
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke 10:40 NIV
Do not judge others and you will not be judged. Matthew 7:1 NIV
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete,without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:23
Bette from Danville, Pa
Ephesians 3:21 ESV
to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever Amen.
Cynthia, Missouri
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7 ESV
Terri, Harrison Township, MI
Your beauty should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. I Peter 3:4 NIV
Jill Knight, Fort Ashby, WV “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7 NKJV
Jackie Watson from Marietta, Ga. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matt 11:28-29 NIV
Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall, I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.
Micah 7:8
Ashley
Alexandria, La
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)
Mande Brightwell Longview, Tx But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 ESV)
Sherry
Choctaw, OK
“as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Ps. 103:12 ESV
Laura Grassi, Denver, CO
2 Chronicles 16:9a (ESV) For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
Plano, Tx Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 NKJV)
Dawn Fuhrman, Cape Coral, FL
Luke 18:1 (ESV)
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Alicia Stewart (Loveland, CO)
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
(Ps 23:5)
Apryl-Raleigh, NC
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! Psalm 119:2(NKJV)
Michelle, Houston, “And whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a command behind you saying ‘This is the way, walk in it’.” Isaiah 30:21 HCSB
jackie siple rockledge ,fl
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. (Psalms 23:6 NKJV)
Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts. James 4:8. NIV
Beth Hurst, Ypsilanti, MI.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” John 14:6 NIV
Susan, Overland Park, KS
“Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” Mt. 5:7 NIV